Vietnamese Organic Products

Organic rice

Image: Gao Huu Co Quang Tri

Beyond its well-established position as a rice giant, Vietnam is witnessing a flourishing trend: organic rice farming. This shift prioritizes quality over shortcuts, with organic practices ensuring grains free from harmful chemicals. The result? Rice rich in nutrients, boasting a purer taste, and contributing to a healthier planet. Quang Tri Organic Rice exemplifies this dedication, employing strict organic methods.

Their dedication has earned recognition at home and has even allowed them to enter European markets. With the growing demand for organic food worldwide, Vietnamese farmers, equipped with their knowledge and commitment to sustainable methods, are ready to take on significant roles in this changing market.

Organic tea

Image: Che huu co Bac Ha

Vietnam is home to over 170 varieties of tea, but one of the most famous is Shan Tuyet. This specialty tea is grown in mountainous areas at an altitude of 1200 meters or above, where the climate is cool and cloudy year-round. The large temperature difference between day and night creates ideal conditions for the growth of Shan Tuyet tea trees.

Image: Che huu co Bac Ha

These trees, which can live for hundreds of years, are carefully tended to by generations of Tay, Dao, and Mong ethnic people in the provinces of Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. Shan Tuyet tea is cultivated completely naturally, without the use of inorganic fertilizers or pesticides.

As a result, Shan Tuyet tea is known for its unique flavor and aroma. It is said to have a sweet, slightly bitter taste with a lingering aftertaste. The tea is also rich in antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients.

Shan Tuyet tea is a popular choice for both domestic and international consumers. For example, Bac Ha district in Lao Cai province is home to 950 hectares of tea, of which 700 hectares are organic. The “Ban Lien Shan Tuyet Tea” brand from Bac Ha district is a 5-star OCOP product that has successfully conquered the European market.

Organic coconut

The coconut tree is one of the most widely cultivated plants in Vietnam, with a major concentration in the Mekong Delta. The provinces of Ben Tre and Tra Vinh are the leading coconut producers in the country, and both have a significant area under organic coconut cultivation.

Coconut farmers are increasingly embracing organic farming methods as a way to ensure the long-term sustainability of the crop.

There is a growing range of organic coconut products available on the market, including: Organic coconut water, organic coconut oil, organic coconut nectar…

One example of a high-quality organic coconut product is Sokfarm Organic Coconut Nectar from Tra Vinh province. This nectar is a natural sweetener that is rich in nutrients and has a low glycemic index.

Organic cinnamon

Did you know Vietnam ranks third globally in the world of cinnamon? With 150,000 hectares dedicated to growing it, cinnamon is a fragrant part of Vietnam’s farming.

Vietnamese cinnamon is distributed in most regions of the country. However, the four most concentrated cinnamon growing areas are Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa – Nghe An, and Quang Nam – Quang Ngai.

Yen Bai is the province with the largest cinnamon cultivation area in Vietnam, with over 81,000 hectares. Cinnamon in Yen Bai is mainly concentrated in the districts of Van Yen (accounting for 55% of the cinnamon area in the province), Tran Yen (23%), Van Chan (11%)…

Dao Thinh commune, located in the Tran Yen district of Yen Bai province, is the commune with the largest area of organic cinnamon in Yen Bai province (800 hectares). It is a shining example of sustainable production.

In Dao Thinh, farmers are committed to organic practices, following strict standards that ensure the purity and quality of their cinnamon. The use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides is strictly prohibited, allowing the trees to thrive naturally. As a result, products like organic cinnamon essential oil and cinnamon powder from this region have gained significant popularity among customers.

Organic black peppercorns

Boasting a global crown, Vietnam reigns supreme as the world’s leading producer and exporter of pepper, claiming over 40% of global production and a staggering 60% of the export market. The Central Highlands and Southeast regions hold the keys to this dominance, contributing approximately 94% of the country’s pepper-growing area and a massive 97% of its production. (This data is according to the Vietnam Pepper Association, 2023)

Embracing a sustainable future, farmers in these regions are increasingly adopting organic farming practices, fostering the development of dedicated organic pepper production areas.